Architecture is amazing – there are so many wonderful buildings that have been designed and erected over the course of human history. Yet we barely ever pause to consider the building we are passing or the building we work or live in.
Architecture, just like art and poetry is a reflection of the society and time out of which it comes. The gothic architecture of certain churches for example, with its austere feeling and spiked exterior came out of a reaction to the extravagance of the Catholic Church. And the square cinder block apartments which were erected late in the last century were a result of more utilitarian design practices.
Simple office refurbishment have nothing on the feeling and history that architecture can evoke. A perfect example of this is Antonio Gaudi. His buildings seem to be as clear a representation of anyone's imagination as you might find in architecture.
The apartment that he designed in Barcelona seems to come out of a Dr Seuss book, while his breathtaking cathedral which is still being built seems to come from some distant gothic imagination melded together with alien design.
Architecture in all its forms is a reflection of our society. From the extravagant to the austere, each building tells the story of its conception. We are not aware of most of those stories, though perhaps just walking by and admiring them in all their glory is sufficient.